In a collection of work, Dr. Peter Hotez examines a recent concept coined "Blue Marble Health" that recognizes a paradoxical disease burden – particularly the burden of NTDs – among poor people living in G20 and other wealthier countries, requiring these nations to take greater ownership for both disease control and research and development into NTDs.

"Socioeconomic disparities caused by income, ethnicity and relative poverty constitute a major and growing determinant of health to at-risk populations regardless of the average income of their country of residence.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) found among poor people in wealthy countries contribute substantially to health disparities, and exhibit many of the same features as NTDs observed predominantly in lower-income countries including their chronicity and adverse impact on child development and pregnancy outcomes. At the same time, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and coronary artery disease, once perceived as the scourges of wealthy countries, urgently require action as increasingly prevalent causes of illness and death in lower- and middle-income countries. Whether conducted in high, middle, or low-income countries, research on diseases that disproportionately affect poorer people is increasingly relevant."